Minnesota Session Laws - 1993, Regular Session

  
    Laws of Minnesota 1993 

                        CHAPTER 214-H.F.No. 327 
           An act relating to motor vehicles; providing for free 
          motor vehicle license plates for former prisoners of 
          war; amending Minnesota Statutes 1992, sections 
          168.031; 168.12, subdivision 5; and 168.125, 
          subdivision 1. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 168.031, is 
amended to read: 
   168.031 [EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION; PERSONS IN ARMED 
FORCES, DISABLED VETERANS, FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR.] 
    The motor vehicle of any person who engages in active 
service in time of war or other emergency declared by proper 
authority in any of the military or naval forces of the United 
States shall be exempt from the motor vehicle registration tax 
during the period of such active service and for 40 days 
immediately thereafter if the owner has filed with the registrar 
of motor vehicles a written application for exemption with such 
proof of military service as the registrar may have required and 
if the motor vehicle is not operated on a public highway within 
the state, except by the owner while on furlough or leave of 
absence.  
    The motor vehicle of any disabled war veteran, which 
vehicle has been furnished free, in whole or in part, by the 
United States government to said disabled veteran, shall be 
exempt from the motor vehicle registration tax.  The motor 
vehicle owned and registered by a former prisoner of war that 
bears the "EX-POW" plates is exempt from the motor vehicle 
registration tax. 
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 168.12, 
subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 5.  [ADDITIONAL FEE.] In addition to any fee 
otherwise authorized or any tax otherwise imposed upon any motor 
vehicle, the payment of which is required as a condition to the 
issuance of any number license plate or plates, the commissioner 
of public safety may impose a fee that is calculated to cover 
the cost of manufacturing and issuing the license plate or 
plates, except for license plates issued to disabled veterans as 
defined in section 168.031 and license plates issued pursuant to 
section 168.124, 168.125, or 168.27, subdivisions 16 and 17, for 
passenger automobiles.  Graphic design license plates shall only 
be issued for vehicles registered pursuant to section 168.017 
and recreational vehicles registered pursuant to section 
168.013, subdivision 1g. 
    Fees collected under this subdivision must be paid into the 
state treasury and credited to the highway user tax distribution 
fund. 
    Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 168.125, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [ISSUANCE AND DESIGN.] The registrar shall 
issue special license plates bearing the inscription "EX-POW" to 
any applicant who is both a former prisoner of war and an owner 
or joint owner of a motor vehicle upon the applicant's 
compliance with all the laws of this state relating to the 
registration and licensing of motor vehicles and drivers.  The 
special license plates shall be of a design and size to be 
determined by the commissioner.  Plates bearing the "EX-POW" 
inscription may be issued for only one motor vehicle per 
applicant.  
    Subd. 1a.  [APPLICATION.] Application for issuance of these 
plates shall be made at the time of renewal or first application 
for registration.  The application shall include a certification 
by the commissioner of veterans affairs that the applicant was a 
member of the military forces of the United States who was 
captured, separated, and incarcerated by an enemy of the United 
States during a period of armed conflict.  
    The applicant shall pay, in addition to the registration 
tax required by law, a fee for the special license plates issued 
under this section, in an amount calculated by the commissioner 
to cover the cost of the license plates.  The additional fee is 
payable only when the plates are issued and no additional fee is 
payable in any year in which tabs or stickers are issued in lieu 
of number plates.  All fees from the sale of the special license 
plates shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the 
highway user tax distribution fund.  
    Subd. 1b.  [NO FEE.] The registrar shall issue a set of 
EX-POW plates to qualified applicants, free of charge for the 
cost of the plates, and shall replace them without charge if 
they become damaged.  In addition, no fee may be charged for a 
subsequent year when tabs or stickers are issued for that motor 
vehicle on which the special EX-POW plates are placed. 
    Subd. 1c.  [PLATES TRANSFER.] Notwithstanding the 
provisions of section 168.12, subdivision 1, the special license 
plates issued under this section may be transferred to another 
motor vehicle owned or jointly owned by the former prisoner of 
war upon the payment of a fee of $5.  This fee shall be paid 
into the state treasury and credited to the highway user tax 
distribution fund notification to the registrar of motor 
vehicles.  
    Subd. 1d.  [SURVIVING SPOUSE.] Upon the death of a former 
prisoner of war, the registrar shall continue to issue free of 
charge, upon renewal, the special license plates to a vehicle 
owned by the surviving spouse of the former prisoner of war.  
Special license plates issued to a surviving spouse may be 
transferred to another vehicle owned by the surviving spouse as 
provided in this subdivision 1c.  No fee may be charged for 
replacement plates issued to a surviving spouse or for tabs or 
stickers issued for the motor vehicle on which the special 
"EX-POW" plates are placed.  A surviving spouse is not exempt 
from the motor vehicle registration tax. 
    Subd. 1e.  [MOTOR VEHICLE; SPECIAL DEFINITION.] For 
purposes of this section, "motor vehicle" means a passenger 
automobile, van, pickup truck, motorcycle, or recreational 
vehicle. 
    Presented to the governor May 14, 1993 
    Signed by the governor May 17, 1993, 10:55 a.m.